These 3 Burglars Didn't Stand a Chance Against Gun-Packing Homeowner – and Wait Until You Hear Their So-Called Alibis

Three burglary suspects in Jefferson County, Ala., were stopped dead in their tracks when a gun-packing homeowner confronted them and held them until police arrived. The unlawful trio were apparently attempting to steal tools.

Stephen Ray Mangham, 33, and Allyson Starr Gay, 23, and Herschel Simmons, 51, were arrested and each charged with three counts of third-degree burglary, three counts of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle, possession of burglary tools and one count of second-degree criminal trespassing.

Left to right: Stephen Ray Mangham, Allyson Starr Gay and Herschel Simmons. (WCFT-TV)

WCFT-TV has more details:

According to Christian, deputies responded to a burglary-in-progress call around 6 p.m. at a home in the 6000 block of Blue Creek Road. Upon arriving, authorities learned that trio had broken into three storage buildings and three vehicles before the gun-toting property owner confronted the suspects, holding them at gunpoint until the authorities arrived to investigate.

Perhaps the most entertaining part of this story lies in alibis the suspects provided to police when they were arrested.

They first told deputies they had "permission" by "someone" to be on the property to collect scrap items. When the owner of the property shot down their claim, the burglars changed their story and claimed the homeowner's donkey had escaped and they were trying to coax it back inside the fence with a cracker.

Authorities were able to prove both stories false and the trio were booked into Jefferson County Jail and are each being held on a $36,000 bond.

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